NHL Franchise Boys

The Montreal Canadiens have been on a big slide down the NHL standings, but their 2023 NHL Draft Lottery odds are now going up, in more ways than one. As of today, the Chicago Blackhawks are trending for the highest odds of winning the NHL Draft Lottery with 18.5% odds, followed closely by the Anaheim Ducks (13.5%) and the Columbus Blue Jackets (11.5%).

The Canadiens hovered around 23rd(3.5%) and 24th(3%) place for about three weeks in December before their rivals caught up to them in the standings. They now currently sit in 27th place, and have seen their Draft Lottery odds increase to 7.5%.

Despite their hot start, Montreal now finds themselves only two points ahead of Arizona (28th) and San Jose (29th) in the standings; meaning they could fall to 29th place by the end of the week. This means that the Canadiens could find themselves with 8.5% or 9.5% NHL Draft Lottery odds should one, or both, of the above teams pass them in the standings.

But that’s not the only reason Montreal’s 2023 Draft Lottery situation looks so promising.

Double Dipping

Perhaps the most surprising turn of events in the NHL this season is that the Florida Panthers are currently a bottom 10 team in the NHL. What makes the situation worse for Florida is that the Canadiens own their 2023 1st-round pick, meaning that the Panthers’ potential woes are Montreal’s gain. Owning their own and the Florida Panthers’ 1st-round picks, the Canadiens are in a good position to select two strong prospects in late June, but it also gives them two kicks at the can in the NHL Draft Lottery. Currently, Florida sits in 23rd place, meaning their 1st-round pick would have a 5% chance of winning the lottery, which is nothing to sneeze at.

However, owning both 1st-round picks means that the Canadiens can combine the odds from both picks. This means that Montreal’s (7.5%) and Florida’s (5%) 1st-round picks give the Canadiens a cumulative 12.5% odds of winning the Draft Lottery, which is better than the Columbus Blue Jackets (currently 30th overall) at 11.5%.

If one or both of Montreal and Florida were to continue sliding down the standings, which is very possible given Arizona and San Jose being right on their tail, the Canadiens could have the 2nd best overall odds (edging out the Anaheim Ducks) for the NHL Draft Lottery by week’s end.

What If?

Should the Panthers continue on their path, or do any worse, they would be offering the Montreal Canadiens even higher odds in the NHL Draft Lottery and the Habs in getting their hands on some of the top players in this draft.

And, as Montreal Hockey Now recently pointed out, if the Panthers miss the playoffs, the Canadiens could win both lotteries, according to a technicality in the NHL Draft Lottery rules. The rule… “No single team will be able to advance in the Draft order by reason of winning a Lottery Draw more than two (2) times in any five (5) year period.

This limitation will not affect a Club’s ability to retain its presumptive Draft position in any Draft Lottery, nor would it preclude the possibility of the Club moving down in Draft Order to the extent other Clubs advance by reason of winning the Lottery Draws. For purposes of clarity, the limitation would attach to the team, not the specific pick. Here’s where things get technical. The Montreal Canadiens finished 32nd in the NHL last season and had the best odds of winning the NHL Draft Lottery. However, despite winning the Draft Lottery for the 1st overall pick, the Canadiens did not “advance in the Draft order by reason of winning a lottery draw”. In fact, they maintained their position as No. 1, and no movement occurred; meaning the Canadiens can still win the lottery twice over the next five years.

If you’re Montreal, you got to like those odds.

Luongo thanked the Hockey Hall of Fame and congratulated his fellow inductees, especially Vancouver Canucks teammates Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

“When I got the call, the first thing I asked was if you guys were in too, because I wanted it so bad to go in with you guys,” Luongo said. “Just being your teammate for eight years was such an honor. I’m proud to say that I played with you guys.”

Luongo spoke about his grandmother, who played goalie against him with an oven mitt and frying pan; his grandfather, who bought him one of his first sets of goalie pads; his parents, who taught him work ethic; and his brothers, who used to play hockey with him in the basement.

“We destroyed it,” Luongo said. “The walls were done.”

He spoke of friends, coaches and agents, like the late Gilles Lupien, who told Luongo’s parents they needed to be ready for him to leave home.

“I don’t know if you guys understand what Italian families are like, but you don’t move away when you’re 15 years old,” Luongo said. “You move away when you get married. Some of my friends are still living at home.”

Luongo mentioned billets, trainers and the three NHL teams for which he played. After starting with the New York Islanders (1999-2000), he spent most of his career with the Canucks (2006-14) and Florida Panthers (2000-06, 2013-19).

“Both franchises mean so much to me, and they’re both equally important,” Luongo said.

After acknowledging his goalie partners and his kids — daughter Gabriella, 14, and son Gianni, 11 — Luongo closed by thanking his wife, Gina.

“It’s been a long journey,” Luongo said. “It’s been tough. Like Hank and Danny said, a lot of times you were left on your own, because we were on the road playing cards — winning at cards, mostly for me.

“You were holding down the fort at home, and as athletes, sometimes we take that a little bit for granted. But I just want to say that I admire you, and I love you so much.”